Fixing device for a cover on a support

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a fixing for a cover ( 1 ) on a support ( 2 ). The aim of the invention is to provide such a device which is easily handled and can be produced economically, with a guaranteed adequately secure fixing of the cover and the possibility of rapid and convenient exchange of cover. Said aim is achieved, whereby the support ( 2 ) comprises at least on elastically fixable locking element ( 4 ), which, on applying the cover ( 1 ) to the support ( 2 ) clips into a back-cut, provided on the housing region of the cover ( 1 ) with a positive fit.

[0001] The invention relates to a device for fixing a cover in place on a support.

[0002] A hand-held cleaning device is known from DE 83 25 111 U1, in which a replaceable cover that serves as a cleaning textile can be affixed on a support structured as a handle part. The cover, which is fitted to the outside contours and dimensions of the support, is pulled over the support, after which the cover surrounds the support with a positive lock. The cover has an insertion opening on one side, for introduction of the support. In the case of the previously known cleaning device, the cover is fixed in place on the support by means of attachment means that are arranged in the region of the insertion opening. These can be bands with which the cover is tied onto the support. Alternatively, the aforementioned utility model proposes using a hook-and-loop closure, which closes the insertion opening off, in whole or in part, in order to fix the cover in place. Other attachment means, such as snaps or the like, for example, can also be used.

[0003] In the case of the previously known cleaning device, the method of fixing the cover in place has a number of disadvantages. Tying the cover on with bands is complicated and inconvenient. If the cover is attached to the support by means of a bow that is easy to untie, this does not assure that the cover is fixed in place on the support in sufficiently secure manner. When a secure knot is used, it is difficult to untie this knot when the cover is replaced. It is true that hook-and-loop closures allow convenient and stable fixation, but hook-and-loop closures are relatively expensive, and this is undesirable, particularly in the case of cleaning textiles, which wear out quickly. The production costs are further increased, in disadvantageous manner, in that the hook-and-loop closure elements must be attached to the cover as separate parts.

[0004] Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the task of making available a device for fixing a cover in place on a support, which can be easily handled and produced at low cost. In this connection, adequately secure fixation of the cover is to be assured, and convenient and quick replaceability of the cover is supposed to be possible.

[0005] This task is accomplished, proceeding from a device of the type stated initially, in that the support has at least one locking element that can be spread away elastically, which can be snapped into an undercut that is provided in the housing region of the cover, when the cover is pushed onto the support, forming a positive lock.

[0006] The fundamental idea of the invention is that of doing without attachment means that are provided on the cover, in order to fix the cover in place on the support, to a great extent. Instead, the support is provided with an elastic locking element, which holds the cover that has been pulled onto the support in place, forming a positive lock, when it is in the spread-away position. To produce the positive lock, all that is necessary is to provide suitable undercuts in the housing region of the cover, which interact with the locking element. To replace the cover, the elastic locking element is merely compressed by hand, so that the positive lock with regard to the undercut of the cover is eliminated, and the cover can be pulled off without problems.

[0007] The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for covers made of textile material. In this way, replaceable covers made of a cleaning textile, for example in the case of hand-held cleaning devices, can be fixed in place on a handle part or a handling part.

[0008] It is practical, in the case of the device according to the invention, if the undercut is formed by a seam that narrows the housing region of the cover locally, or by a holding seam that is arranged appropriately. By providing a suitable seam, using a thread having an adequate thickness, a bead-like undercut can be formed in the housing region of the cover, into which the elastic locking element engages, in order to fix the cover in place on the support. An undercut that is just as suitable is formed if instead, a holding seam is made in the housing region of the cover, in which seam one or more layers of the textile material are laid on top of one another and sewn together. In this case, the locking element that can be spread away elastically from the support engages on the edge formed by the textile layers, in order to prevent the cover from slipping off the support. Alternatively, it is also possible to affix additional elements for forming a suitable undercut in the housing region of the cover.

[0009] An advantageous further development of the device according to the invention results if the locking element holds the cover under tension in its locking position, in interaction with the support. When the cover is used for cleaning purposes, the result achieved is that the cover is held in its flat shape, thereby resulting in optimal utilization of the cleaning surface. It is furthermore advantageous that the tensed cover is securely fixed in place, and cannot slide off even during vigorous cleaning movements.

[0010] It is practical if the locking element in the device according to the invention aligns with the outside contours of the support, in its unlocked position. In this way, it is particularly simple to replace the cover, since all that is necessary is to bring the locking element that can be elastically spread away into the unlocked position, by hand, after which the cover can be pulled off the support without problems. Since the locking element aligns with the outside contours of the support in its unlocked position, the positive lock that is a prerequisite for fixing the cover in place on the support is canceled out, the undercut is released, and the cover can be removed from the support.

[0011] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in the following, using the drawing.

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a cleaning device, in which a cleaning textile 1 is arranged on a support 2 as a cover. A handle 3 is molded onto the support 2, which is made of plastic. The cover 1 encloses the support 2 and is fixed in place on the latter by means of two locking elements 4 that can be elastically spread away from the support 2. The locking elements 4 snap into undercuts that are formed by holding seams 5 made at the edge of the insertion opening of the cover 2, forming a positive lock. The holding seams 5 are formed by turning the textile material of the cover 1 over and sewing the layers that lie on top of one another together. When the cover 1 is pushed onto the support 2, the locking elements 4 snap behind the edges formed by the seams 5, at the edge of the insertion opening. At the same time, the cover 1 is held under tension by the locking elements 4, which are elastic towards the outside. To pull the cover 1 off the support 2, the locking elements are brought into the unlocked position, by hand, by pressing them together in the direction of the arrow 6, in which position the edges of the locking element 4 align with the outside contours of the support 2. The cover 1 can now be pulled off, since the holding seams 5 are no longer held in place by the locking elements 4. 

1. Device for fixing a cover (1) in place on a support (2), characterized in that the support (2) has at least one locking element (4) that can be spread away elastically, which can be snapped into an undercut that is provided in the housing region of the cover (1), when the cover (1) is pushed onto the support (2), forming a positive lock.
 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (1) consists of textile material.
 3. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the undercut is formed by a seam that narrows the housing region of the cover (1) locally, or by a holding seam (5) that is arranged appropriately.
 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (4) holds the cover (1) under tension in its locked position, in interaction with the support (2).
 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (4) aligns with the outside contours of the support (2) in its unlocked position. 